The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Monday Anyebe, gave the directive when he led a team to assess the extent of vandalism in the stadium in Lokoja.

Anyebe said the team was in the stadium to assess the extent of vandalism by criminal elements who had carted away some equipment at the stadium.

He expressed concern over the level of vandalism, describing it as ‘worrisome’ and vowed that government would do everything possible to bring perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.

The commissioner, therefore ordered all the illegal occupants to vacate the premises within 14 days, after which they would be forcefully evicted and arrested for prosecution.

He also warned that the government would not allow miscreants to turn the stadium complex into harbouring criminal elements and vandalizing the sports facilities.

“All illegal occupants within the premises and the immediate perimeter fence of the stadium should heed the directive to vacate the premises within 14 days.

“Gov. Ahmed  Ododo will not condone any act of criminality in the state; anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law,” Anyebe warned.

Anyebe further disclosed that plans were ongoing to renovate the stadium to a world standard for easy sporting activities in the state.

He, therefore implored the perpetrators to desist from causing set back for the government in its quest to develop the state.

The commissioner stressed that adequate measures were being put in place to safeguard the sports facilities.

Reports says that after assessing the stadium, the commissioner visited the State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

He intimated the NSCDC Command of the development and stressed the  need for collaboration with the ministry towards providing adequate security for the stadium.

Anyebe appealed to the Command to work collectively with his office in ensuring that personnel of the Corps were posted to the facility to avoid recurrent vandalisation.

In his remarks, the Deputy Commandant, Bala Bodinga, on behalf of the state’s NSCDC Commandant, Paul Igwebuike, commended the commissioner and his encourage for the visit.

He described the visit as timely and assured the commissioner of the NSCDC collaboration to ensure the safety of facilities at the Stadium complex. (NAN)

Dr Titus Okunronmu, former Director of Research Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has predicted an increase in the lending rate from its current 24.75 by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Okunronmu gave the prediction in an interview on Monday in Ota, Ogun.

Reports says that financial expert spoke against the backdrop of the MPC meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
He stated that the lending rate would be raised by MPC, as CBN might not want to force it down, adding that until the inflation rate came down, the lending rate would continue to go up.
“It is at the same level of inflation that CBN will net or fix the lending rate,” he said.
According to the former CBN director, the higher the inflation rate, the less profit commercial banks will record. (NAN)

Memorial ceremonies for President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian are planned in Iran for Tuesday.

Raisi, Amirabdollahian and seven senior Iranian officials died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

Local media reported that a ceremony is being planned in the provincial capital of Tabriz in the morning, followed by a ceremony in the religious stronghold and pilgrimage city of Qom.

The date for the funerals of the two statesmen has not yet been announced.

Raisi is to be buried in his hometown of Mashhad.

The helicopter crashed in dense fog on the mountains over East Azerbaijan Province while the deceased were travelling back from a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

  (dpa/NAN)